Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Tips for Exercising When Suffering From Fibromyalgia

Most people who suffer from fibromyalgia suffer from a lot of muscle pain and chronic fatigue. Hence the thought of engaging in regular exercise may seem daunting. However, doing so can put you on a faster road to recovery, as it helps to strengthen muscles, increase energy levels, and decrease pain.

Here are some tips to help you get started.

Talk To a Physio Therapist

Fibromyalgia is a muscle disorder, and the last thing you want to do is further aggravate those muscles. Therefore a physio therapist can help you figure out what you are capable of and which exercises to start with. They are trained professionals and will be able to guide you in the right direction so that you can avoid further injury.

Always Listen to Your Body

Always, always listen to your body and stop any exercise session when you become tired or when you begin to feel pain. Just because you were able to handle 10 minutes on the treadmill yesterday, does not mean that you have to endure that long today. Some days are better than others, and you should always exercise according to how you feel.

A small amount of pain after the session is okay, but if the pain persists or gets worse, then you need to reduce your exercises and/or talk to a medical professional.

Learn to Breathe Correctly

Breathing correctly during exercising can help to increase energy as well as reduce the pain.

You may be surprised to discover that you most likely are not breathing correctly. Most people breathe into their chests rather than using their diaphragm. When breathing into the chest you are only using the top portion of your lungs, and your goal is to use the bottom portion as well.

To find out whether you are breathing correct or not, pay attention as to whether or not your stomach expands when you inhale. If it expands, then you are breathing correct. However, if it does the opposite then you need to do some practising.

The best way to practise is by lying on your back, either on the floor, your bed or even in a bath tub. Then with your hands on your stomach, consciously practise breathing deep into your stomach so that it expands when you inhale. It may take some practise, but you can do it.

Join a Group

There is nothing like joining a group that has the same agenda as you. This allows you to motivate others when they are feeling down, and most importantly, others will be there to support and motivate you on your not-so-great days.

Click Here for some easy exercises for fibromyalgia

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